Mainland Mandarin

Mainland is defined as "relating to or forming the main part of a country or continent, not including the islands around it egardless of status under territorial jurisdiction by an entity" The term is often politically, economically and/or demographically more significant than politically associated remote territories, such as exclaves or oceanic islands situated outside the continental shelf.

In geography, "mainland" can denote the continental (i.e. non-insular) part of any polity or the main island within an island nation. In geopolitics, "mainland" is sometimes used interchangeably with terms like metropole as an antonym to overseas territories. In the sense of "heartland", mainland is the opposite of periphery. In some language a separate concept of "mainland" is missing and is replaced with a "continental portion".

The term is relative: in Tasmania, continental Australia is the mainland, while to residents of Flinders Island, the main island of Tasmania is also "the mainland", although the geological Australian continent includes all the former plus the island of New Guinea and all the smaller islands (e.g. the Torres Strait Islands) in between.

Prominent usages of the term mainland

Continental

''This list denotes prominent usages of the term "mainland" to distinguish the islands of a continent from the mainland of a continent through a geopolitical lens.''

* Mainland Africa, from the perspectives of Cape Verde, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe and Seychelles, as well as Mayotte (France) and Réunion (France)
* Mainland Asia, from the perspectives of Bahrain, Brunei, Cyprus (inc. Akrotiri and Dhekelia and Northern Cyprus), East Timor, Indonesia, Japan (inc. Okinawa Prefecture), the Maldives, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan (inc. Kinmen, the Matsu Islands, and Penghu), as well as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (India), Christmas Island (Australia), the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia), Coloane and Taipa (Macau), East Malaysia (Malaysia), Hainan (China), Hong Kong Island (Hong Kong), Islands District (Hong Kong), Jeju Island (South Korea), Lakshadweep (India) and Sakhalin Oblast (Russia)
**In the future, if the Salwa Canal is built, also from the perspective of Qatar
*Mainland Europe, from the perspectives of Cyprus, Iceland, Ireland, Malta, the United Kingdom (inc. Guernsey, the Isle of Man, and Jersey), as well as Åland (Finland), the Faroe Islands (Denmark), Jan Mayen (Norway), Svalbard (Norway), Corsica (France), Sardinia (Italy), Sicily (Italy), Danish islands (Denmark), Azores (Portugal), Madeira (Portugal), Canary Islands (Spain), Balearic Islands (Spain), Gotland (Sweden), Estonian islands (Estonia), Greek islands (Greece) and Russian islands (Russia)
**Also note that several European countries possess colonies or outposts all around the world (often small islands) in all other continental regions including North America, South America, Africa, Oceania, Asia and Antarctica
*Mainland Europe, from the perspective of Scandinavia, a peninsula
*Mainland Southeast Asia, from the perspective of Maritime Southeast Asia

Internal

''This list denotes prominent usages of the term "mainland" to distinguish between distinct regions within a single country based on an "islands-to-mainland" relationship. Note that the "mainland" can sometimes consist of a large island rather than a continental landmass.''

*Geography of Argentina, Mainland Argentina, as opposed to Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina, Tierra del Fuego Province (including Argentine Antarctica, Argentinian Antarctic claims), as well as other islands of Argentina
*Mainland Australia, as opposed to the List of islands of Tasmania, island of Tasmania and other Australian islands, especially territories of Australia, those not part of Australia proper.
*Geography of Brazil, Mainland Brazil, as opposed to Abrolhos Archipelago, Abrolhos, Fernando de Noronha, Ilhabela, Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, Saint Peter and Saint Paul and Trindade and Martim Vaz.
*Great Britain, Mainland Britain, as opposed to the many smaller islands of the United Kingdom. The largest islands within the Northern Isles are called Orkney Mainland and Shetland Mainland, respectively.
*Geography of Canada, Mainland Canada, as opposed to Islands of Canada, Canadian Islands, particularly those in the Canadian Maritimes, Maritimes or in the Canadian arctic islands, Arctic
**the Mainland Colony was the mainland part of British Columbia, prior to its merger with Vancouver Island; today, the term "Lower Mainland" refers the southernmost part of the coast of British Columbia
** the Geography of Nova Scotia, continental part of Nova Scotia, as opposed to Cape Breton Island and other :Islands of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotian islands
*Continental Chile, Mainland Chile, as opposed to oceanic islands, remote islands of the Chilean Sea, Tierra del Fuego Province, Chile, Tierra del Fuego Province and Chilean Antarctica, Chilean Antarctic claims, as well as offshore islands of Chile such as the Chiloé Archipelago and Easter Island
* the Island of Cuba, Cuban Mainland, as opposed to the Canarreos Archipelago and other islands of Cuba
*Geography of Denmark, Mainland Denmark, as opposed to overseas parts of the Danish Realm; geographically, Denmark proper consists of a continental portion called Jutland and nearby islands of Denmark, Danish Isles
** the Geography of Greenland, main island is Greenland, excluding Disko Island and other :Islands of Greenland, islands of Greenland
*Regions of Ecuador, Mainland Ecuador, as opposed to the Galápagos Islands and other islands of Ecuador
*Río Muni, Mainland Equatorial Guinea, as opposed to the non-continental islands of Equatorial Guinea.
*Geography of Estonia, Mainland Estonia, as opposed to the West Estonian archipelago with two of the fifteen Counties of Estonia, counties and other islands of Estonia
*Mainland Finland, as opposed to Åland; historically, Finland proper, Finland Proper made up the southwestern portion of the mainland
*Mainland France, as opposed to Corsica and List of islands of France#Islands of metropolitan France, other islands within European France; also used loosely as an antonym of Overseas France, despite the fact that the term Metropolitan France is more apt
** the Grande Terre (New Caledonia), main island of New Caledonia, as opposed to the Loyalty Islands and other List of islands of New Caledonia, islands of New Caledonia
* Geography of Greece#Mainland, Mainland Greece (including the island of Euboea), as opposed to the Greek islands
* the Geography of Iceland, main island of Iceland, as opposed to other islands of Iceland
*Mainland India, as opposed to its insular Union Territory, union territories or any other List of islands of India, islands of India
*Mainland Italy, as opposed to Insular Italy, its insular regions or any other islands of Italy
*Mainland Japan, as opposed to the other Japanese archipelago, home islands, or to remote islands of Japan, such as the Nanpō Islands
* the Geography of Madagascar, main island of Madagascar, as opposed to other :Islands of Madagascar, islands of Madagascar
*Peninsular Malaysia, Mainland Malaysia as opposed to East Malaysia or to any List of islands of Malaysia, islands of Malaysia
*Malta Island, Mainland Malta, as opposed to Gozo and other Geography of Malta#Islands, islands of Malta
*European Netherlands, Mainland Netherlands as opposed to the Dutch Caribbean; the Netherlands proper contains numerous Dutch islands, offshore islands
*Mainland New Zealand, is the two islands, the north and south islands. The South Island of New Zealand is sometimes jokingly called the Mainland or the main island, especially by South Islanders themselves. Though it has a far smaller population, it is larger than the North Island. "Mainland New Zealand" more commonly refers to the islands of New Zealand, archipelago made up of the North and South Island and smaller nearby islands, often excluding more outlying islands such as the Chatham Islands, and always excluding remote insular parts of the Realm of New Zealand.
*Mainland Norway, as opposed to Svalbard and other islands of Norway, including Dependencies of Norway, its overseas dependencies
**Spitsbergen, the main island of Svalbard, as opposed to Nordaustlandet and other :Islands of Svalbard, Islands of Svalbard
* the New Guinea, mainland part of Papua New Guinea, as opposed to the Islands Region or to any other :Template:Islands of Papua New Guinea, islands of Papua New Guinea
*Mainland Portugal, as opposed to Autonomous Regions of Portugal, its insular regions, or more broadly to any List of islands of Portugal, islands of Portugal; until 1975, the term "mainland" was used loosely as an antonym of Overseas province, overseas Portugal
*Peninsular Spain, Mainland Spain as opposed to the Balearic Islands, Balearic and Canary Islands and other plazas de soberanía, lands under Spanish sovereignty; cf. the colonial-era term ''peninsulares''
* the Geography of Sri Lanka, main island of Sri Lanka, as opposed to other islands of Sri Lanka
*Mainland United States, as opposed to nearby islands belonging to a certain U.S. state, the Hawaiian Islands, and to U.S. Insular area, island territories in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific or Caribbean Sea, Caribbean. The terms "contiguous United States" (48 adjoining states in the continent of North America which does not include Alaska) or "continental United States" (any U.S. state that is part of the North American continent which includes Alaska) are widely used instead, despite including adjacent islands on the continental shelf in both definitions.
**Geography of Alaska, Mainland Alaska (which is a part on the North American continent and a component of the U.S. mainland), as opposed to the approximately 2,670 named List of islands of Alaska, offshore islands (many of which are part of the Alexander Archipelago or Aleutian Islands chain).
**Point Roberts, Washington, Point Roberts (a pene-exclave of Washington state) views Bellingham, Washington, Bellingham as "the mainland".Stuck at the Border, Point Roberts Residents May Get This Help Getting to the Mainland
- Centralia Chronicle 17 Aug 2020 The closure of international borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic has rendered it (de-facto) an island in all but name.
* Main or Big Land—in Russia—as opposed to Minor Land, islands, or other isolated territories that are connected by water or air travel but not by paved road.

Internal (disputed)

''This list denotes prominent internal usages of the term "mainland" that are disputed.''

* Geography of Taiwan, Mainland Taiwan, as opposed to Kinmen, Matsu Islands, Matsu, Penghu and other List of islands of Taiwan, islands of Taiwan
** The cause of the dispute is Political status of Taiwan, Taiwan's uncertain sovereignty. Nevertheless, if the Taiwan, Republic of China on Taiwan is regarded as an independent country, it is geographically one large island surrounded by several smaller islands. Politically, Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu are ''de facto'' top-level Administrative divisions of Taiwan, subdivisions within Taiwan, classified as County (Taiwan), counties.
* Regions of Ukraine, Mainland Ukraine, as opposed to Crimea, which is nonetheless :Peninsulas of Europe, geographically part of the European mainland.Crimean channel ATR resumes broadcasting in mainland Ukraine
Ukrayinska Pravda (4 June 2015)
** The cause of this dispute is the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. From a Russian perspective, Russia is the mainland to Crimea.
* Great Britain, Mainland Britain, as opposed to Northern Ireland
** This is politically charged term in Ireland, mainly used by pro-UK unionists and generally avoided by Irish nationalism, Irish nationalists.

Irredentist

''This list denotes prominent usages of the term "mainland" to distinguish between distinct regions within an Irredentism, irredentist region.''

* Mainland China, a term that usually refers to all territories, irrespective of geography, that are administered by the China, People's Republic of China (PRC), aside from Hong Kong and Macau, which are both administered by the PRC as Dependent territory, semi-independent Special administrative regions of China, special administrative regions
**Additionally, Western media frequently refer to the relationship between the ''de facto'' independent state of Taiwan, Republic of China (ROC; commonly called Taiwan) and the PRC as that of an island to its mainland. This is done in order to tacitly support the Taiwan Province, People's Republic of China, PRC's territorial claim to Taiwan. This is highly controversial among supporters of Taiwan independence movement, Taiwanese independence. Within Taiwan, Pan-Blue Coalition, Pan-Blue politicians who support the ROC's constitutional territorial claim to the Chinese mainland have popularised this phrase as well.
* Geography of Greece#Mainland, Mainland Greece as opposed to the Greek part of Cyprus
* Korean peninsula, Mainland Korea as opposed to Jeju Island, Jeju and other islands of North Korea, islands of North or islands of South Korea, South Korea

See also

* "Province of Tierra Firme, Mainland Province", the southern portion of the Spanish Main
* Maine#Etymology, Etymology of the toponym "Maine"
* Cartographic generalization
* Political status of Taiwan, Inclusion of Taiwan in maps of "China"
* Omission of Tasmania from maps of Australia
* Mainlander (disambiguation)

Notes

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Geography
Metropolitan or continental parts of states,